Supporting Service Families Overseas: Building Community Connections and Enhancing Wellbeing
The Armed Forces Covenant Fund: Supporting Serving Families Overseas is now accepting applications for grants of between £3,000 and £20,000.
These grants are aimed at supporting projects that assist serving families stationed at overseas bases and defence locations, focusing on addressing and recognising wellbeing issues faced by partners, children and young people during overseas posting.
What is the Supporting Serving Families Overseas programme all about?
Supporting Serving Families Overseas is launching under our new three-year Covenant Fund Funding Framework. We’ve designed the programme to meet specific needs identified through our public Consultation in 2023.
Our Covenant Consultation identified that one of the key areas for us to focus on was ‘Ensuring Armed Forces communities are not disadvantaged.
This family- focused programme will support serving families overseas by addressing their needs, including emotional wellbeing, mental health, social connections, and overall family dynamics. The aim is to better assist those deployed overseas alongside their Service personnel. Our consultation findings are available to read on our website.
Supporting Serving Families Overseas will support projects which achieve one or more of the following outcomes:
- Provide new forms of personalised and targeted support in location for partners, young people, and children and their wellbeing whilst posted overseas.
- Increase serving families’ knowledge of existing services and recreational provision.
- Reduce isolation and the impact of loneliness in country for partners, young people and children.
Who can apply?
We’re inviting applications from overseas Armed Forces unit, bases or defence locations. Registered charities working in partnership with an Armed Forces overseas unit, base, or defence location can also apply.
A full list of eligibility criteria is available in the programme guidance below.
What type of project are we looking to support?
Your project should provide innovative, targeted support to families of Service personnel stationed overseas.
It should aim to help families thrive in their new communities by building social connections and support networks that enhance overall wellbeing.
If you apply for a grant, you need to show us how Service families have contributed to shaping your project and provide evidence of the need for your initiative.
The application deadline is 12pm GMT, 15 January 2025. You will receive a decision before end of March 2025.
Find out more
You can find full details of this exciting new programme, including eligibility and how to apply, on our dedicated programme page.
We’ll be launching more Covenant Fund programmes in the coming weeks – keep an eye on our website and social channels for more information…